Safety-razor-blade stropper



A il 1927.

pr G. D. GALLAGHER SAFETY RAZOR BLADE STROPPER Filed I July 28. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ril 1927.

p 7 G. D. GALLAGHER SAFETY RAZOR BL ADE STROPPER Filed July 28 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 12 1927.

G. D. GALLAGHER swim? ngzon BLADE STROPPER Fil ed July 28. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet z Patented Apr. 12, 1927 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

GEORGE I). GALLAGHER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF PART INTERESTS TO NANNIE F. HOOS AND RUTH B. WALTEN, BOTH OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND; CALLIE F. MOORE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; .AND J. MARSH MATTHEWS, OF BALTIMORE COUNTY,

MARYLAND.

SAFETY-RAZOR-BLADE STROPPER.

My invention relates to razor stropping pending application, Serial No. 315,517,

filed August 5, 1919.

The primary object of my present inven-.

. tion is to provide a'neat, rugged and simple stropper of the spiral drive-type.

A further object of thepresent invention resides in mounting the tubular sleeves which support the stropping rolls, so that their ends, or even one end, will not project from the enclosing casing as heretofore.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a stropper of the type de scribed in which the rotatable stropping rolls are held from axial movement.

Yet another feature of this invention resides in the novel ball bearing driving connection between ,the spiral driving member and the hollow tube on which the stropping rolls are mounted.

A further object of this invention reside in the means for limiting the extreme outward movement of the spiral driving member whereby" the pressure of the blade against the stropping surface is relieved.

, Another feature of this invention resides in the novel manner in which the free ends of the spiral driving member are provided with stops for limiting the outward movement of the driver. I

A further feature of this invention resides in the novel manner of mounting the blade holding shaft so that it can float between the stropping rolls and thus compensate for any irregularities on the stropping surfaces.

Another feature of the invention resides in the novel mounting of the work holding shaft and in the cooperative arrangement of the bridge piece interconnecting the spools on the roll carrying tubes.

An additional phase of this invention includes the means for permitting the blade holder to, slide back and forth in its surrounding tube while preventing its complete withdrawal from the tube and easing.

Another feature of this'invention resides in the means for preventing the accidental axial movement of the blade holder while permittingits free withdrawalfrom its enclosing tube in order to remove the blade.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel means for holding the blade in place upon the work holder in withdrawn position.

Another feature resides in a combined means for holding the blade holder from complete withdrawal from its casing, in preventing accidental endwise movement of the blade holder and in locking the blade upon the blade holder. Y

Yet another object of the invention resides in the means for preventing premature rotation of the ball bearing'driven stropping rolls. 4

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

Referring to the accompanying draw- Figure 1 is a sectional plan view showing the driving spiral in inward position;

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view of the blade holder and blade in withdrawn position;

Fig. 6 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the blade holder and the improved means for accomplishing a number of functions;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the driving spiral in extended posi tion; v v

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional viewof the slotted tube, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the tube.

Referring to thedrawings, in detail, the device comprises an enclosing. casing 1 of metal, which is of a suitable size to fit well within the palm of the hand. The end caps 2, and 3 of the casing aresuitably perforated on the opposite sides of the central axis of the casing to receive the two slotted tubes 4 and 5 which are slightly shouldered on their opposite ends as at 6 and 7 to receive washers 8 and 9. Thes'e'opposite ends of connected together by the handle in the shape of a round or square metal bar 12. In the preferred construct on, the ends of the spirals are turned down as at 13 to fit within corresponding bores in the handle, the ends of the turned down portion are countersunk as at 14 and the metal peened or turned over as at 15 to provide a simple and sturdy fastening. Intermediate its ends,

the handle 12 is perforated as at 16 to re-' ceive a finger ring 17 which, when in use, takes the dotted position of Fig. 1,.but when not in use, lies snugly against the handle as shown in full lines of Fig. 1. In some instances, the ring may be remnved and a hook attached to the wall may be inserted through the hole 16. This provides an admirable way of suspending the device when not in use and also afl'ordsa most excellent means for holding the spiral driver rigid while permitting the casing to be reciprocated with respect thereto by being held in the palm of the hand.

The stropping rolls are fixed to the tubes 4 and Eat one end thereof. These rolls comprise the cores 18 which are preferably wood, but may be of any suitable material rigidly fixed to the tube in any desired manner. The periphery of each roll is provided with a strip of stropping leather 19, preferably spirally wound thereon and fixed thereto as by gluing or otherwise. These rolls'hence do not move relatively to the tubes but rigidly with them. 1 The blade holder. is preferably mounted in the ends of thecasing between the rolls so as to permit-=the blade to beautomatically flopped therebetween as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

.The blade holder comprises a spiral portron 20, preferabl of d fferent pitch from the spirals 10 an 11, and a blade holding tube 21,=they being suitably joined rigidly together as at 22 by a pin or by sweating or wedging. The end of spiral 20 is turned over the end as before described.

down and .rotatably journaled in the end of the casing 52 by countersinking and peening Preferably the end cap is indented as at 23 to prevent the projection of the blade spiral fastenmg means beyond the end of the easlng, suitable washers being used as necessary.

The blade holding tube 21 is slotted as at 24.- in order to permit the blade to be nserted and withdrawn from the blade holdmg: tube. The outer end of the tube is rotatively ournaIed as at 25 in the outer end. of cap 3 of the casing. By means of this.

larities in the stropping surfaces. {This'is a very practical and important feature.

For the purpose of rotating the rollsaud properly positioning the bladewith respect thereto, the tubes l and5 are slotted adjac- 'cent the ends opposite the portions thereof on which the rolls are mounted. As best illustrated in Figures '9 and 10, the slots '26 are preferably three. in number and spaced equally around the circumference of the tube. punched according to the thickness of tube used. Loosely fittingover the tubes are the spools 27.. Each one of thesespools comprises a relatively long bearingin the form of a sleeve 28, the inner periphery of one end being countersunk. as at 29 to form an annular cage for the balls 30, three in until-- They may be either. milled or Y her, to correspond to the three slots 26. The

spools are also formed with an upstanding rim 31also provided with an exterior peripheral countersink adapted-to receive the edge of the bridge piece 32. When the spools with the balls therein are assembled on the tubes, each .ball will lie within a slot 26. These slots 26 are of sufficient length to permit the blade to be positioned from one stropping surface to the other as will be further described and the .ends 33 of the slots are preferably formed as abrupt shoulders to limit the movement of the ball in the tube 4. in either direction.

The'bridge piece 32 which effects the blade shifting is mounted as before described in the peripheral countersink of eachspool and.

for the purpose of quickassembly, each end of the bridge is. preferably cut away as at. Intermediate its ends, and at the central axis of the device, the bridge piece is formed 'with an angular bore 34 to correspond with the outline of thespiral 20. This bore may be of any suitableoutline.

In my prior construction, no provision has been made for preventing the extreme outward movement of the spiral driver pressing the blade with excessive; force against the strapping surface. stance, this is overcome by providing the slotted tubes 4 and 5 with an intcrnal shr-iulder 35 .'preferably by milling the inner tube In the present inwith two diameters or by punching in a suit I able'shoulder when the. tube is'made ofjrelatively thin .stock. This shoulder 35 cooperates with the stops on the outcrends of-the spirals 10 and 11. These stops comprise relatively thick washers 36 which fit over the turned down-end portions of the spirals, being held in place by countersinking the turned down ends-and peening over the same i as heretofore described. The diameter of these stops 36 is slightlylarger than the di-- ameter of the spirals and-11 so that while tively limit and stop the further outward movement of the spiral driver. In this 1nan-- driveris limited in its inward movement by ner, the pressure of 'the blade against the:

rollis relieved. It will be noted that the reason of the handle striking against the end cap 3 of the casing and is limited in movement in the opposite direction by those stops 36.

The blade holder 37'illustrated in Fig. 7 is adapted to telescope within the blade holding-tube 21. The holder is provided withthe usual. lugs 38'adapted to fit into the holes 39 of the Gillette blade 40, the body of the holder being suitably milled or formed to permit the blade to lie flat'thereon as shown. The outer end of the holder is provided with a knurled head suitablypointed as at 42 to prevent the blade holder from being forcibly held during the stropping operation;

At its inner end, the blade holder 37 is provided with a lug 43 spacedslightly from an end shoulder 44.. Into this s ace fits the fastening device illustrated inig. 7. This fastenin device has several. functions. It

is somew at in the shaf-pe of a cotter pin and 35' .met'al such as phosphor-bronze.

' rounded head 45 and two resilient legs 46, one of which is.provided,. with an integral is preferably made 0 some tough springy Ithas a lateral portion 47 adapted to form a blade holding clip. This clip is perforated as at 48 to permit the clip to pass over the lug 43 and lie flat on the blade holder.

I In certain aspects of the invention, the fastening device is made without the lateral .clip 47 and perforation 48, in which case, dghtidblade is not positively held on the blade In assemblingthe blade holder in its tube within the casing ,1, the end 44 is inserted within the end cap 3. The clip is then laid fiat in the space 49 with the head overhanging one side and the legs 46 over hanging the other, the head and legs are thenslipped through the registering slots 24 of the tube 21. The legs 46 are then (hen :around the outside of the tube as illustrate in Figures 3 and 5, the lug 43 passin through the hole 48 in the clip. With this construction, it is evident that the blade holder 37 cannot notv be withdrawn clear ,of the casin because the legs 46 will strike the end we s 50 of the central opening in the end cap 3.. It will also be evident that the resilient grip bent over legs 46' shown in Figures 5' and 6, the blade will be -,slippe'd-und er the clip 47 and will be firmly held from dropping off the blade holder when in outward position. The portion 47 of the clip maybe omitted if desired.

'lheend cap 3 is provided with the usual fan-shaped slots 52 through which the blade may be inserted into the casing .1.

Another valuable feature .of this inventiou res des in the means for preventing premature movement of. the stropping rolls on reversal of direction of the spiral driver. This means is particularly desirable when the ball bearing drive is used because of the rolls being very easily operated. It comprises a resilient shim 53 preferably of phosphorbronze which is centrally apertured to freely receive therethrough the indentation 23 of the casing and is also'recessed to permit the passage therethroiigh of the hollow tubes 4 and 5. As clearly shown in Figures 8: and 9, however, this shim being resilient bears against the washers 9 and presses them aga nst the shoulders 7 to thereby put a drag on the rotation of the tubes 4 and 5. In certain instances, these shims may be utilized for increasing the pressure of the blade on the roll, due to the dragging action of the shim on the roll. Y

Iii operating the stropper, the blade holder 37 is pulled out and the blade 40 inserted thereon. The blade is-then pushed into the casing between the two stropping rolls.- The casing is held in one ha-nd and the spiral drive recipro'cated into and out of the casing.

The first movement is the blade positioning movement. The spirals 1 0 and 11 contacting with the balls 30 cause .them to rotate and to move along with the spirals lengthwise of and along the slots 26 of the hollow .tubes without moving the tubes. During this endwise travel of the balls, the spools 27 are carried along endwise on the tubes and move the bridge piece 32 laterally along the spiral 20 which is of suflicient pitch to flip the blade from contact with one he balls 'hatfigcome to the end of the slots tate these tubes and rotate the stropping rolls thereon to strop the blade. When the 6. When tifeballs do strike, the abrupt houlder at the end of the slots they are no, longer free'to move laterally, and as the" 'spirals 10 and 11 continue their movement through the tubes 4 and 5, the balls will ro-- III stop 36 contacts with the shoulders'35; the

spiraldriver is reversed fw-hich accordingly repeats in',the same sequence,-first the blade positioning and then the roll operating. This action is continued until the blade is sufticiently stropped.

It is apparent that the pressure of the blade against the roll as inmy prior con struction is dependent upon the force executed upon the spiral driver. It a slight. stropping pressure is needed, the spirals and 11 are pressed lightly, the stropping pressure is light and the action slow. On

10 the contrary, a vigorous reciprocation of the driver produces a strong pressure of the blade on the stropping roll and/{speedy operation of the device. This variation in pressure of the blade on the rolls is due to 15 the inclined surface of the spirals used and especially on the reactive effect of the two spirals, that is, the driving spirals 10 and 11 and the work holder spiral 21. For the reason that when more pressure is put on spirals 10 and 11, the blade is pressed more firmly against the roll which tends to hold the roll against turning and this in turn demands more pressure on the driver to rotate the rollrs. As the elt'eet'is cumulative, the

stropping action is ideal.

It will be obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the class described com prising an enclosing casing, hollow tubes rotatably journaled therein, stropping rolls on said tubesQa blade holder mounted in said casing and adapted to position the blade into contact with each stropping roll, spiral driving members reciprocable through said tubes, devices operable by said spiral members; said devices being constructed and an ranged to rotate the rolls and to position the blade, and means for relieving the pressure of the blade againstQa roll on extreme movement of said spirals in one direction.

2. A device of the class described comprising an enclosin casing, stropping rolls, and a blade holder 1ournaled therein, rigid driving means reciprocable into and out of said casing, devices for rotatmg said rolls, includ ing a member cooperating with said blade.

holder for positioning said blade against the rolls on reciprocation of said driver, and means for relievingisaid blade ol pressure against said roll on extremeiuovemout of said driver.

3. A device of the class described eomprising an enclosing casing, stropping rolls, and a blade holder journaled therein, rigid driving meansreciprocable into and out of said casing, devices operated by said rigid driving means for rotating said rolls, said devices including means cooperating with said blade holder for positioning said blade against said rolls on reciprocation of said driver, and means for limiting the extreme with an internal abutment, a stroppin'g roll carried by said tube, a blade holder mounted in said casing, a spiral member reciprocable into and out of said tube, means operable by the reciprocation of said spiral for rotating said roll and positioning said blade holder, and means carried by said spiral adapted to contact said abutment to limit the movement of said spiral.

5. A device of the class described comprising an enclosing casing, hollow tubes rotatably journaledtherein and provided with internal projecting shoulders, stropping rolls mounted on said tubes, a blade holder mounted in said casing, spiral members reciprocable into and out of said tubes, devices for rotating said rolls including means cooperating with said blade holder for positioning said blade on reciprocation of said members. said members having stops of larger diameter than said spirals carried thereby and adapted to engage said internal shoulders on said tubes to limit the movement of said spirals therein.

6. A device of the class described com prising an enclosing casing, hollow tubes retatably journalcd therein and provided with internal projecting shoulders, stropping rolls mounted on said tubes, a blade holder mounted in said casing, spiral members; reciprocable into and out of said tubes, devices for rotating'said rolls including means cooperating with said blade holder for positioning said blade on reciprocation of said mem bers, said members having their free ends of smaller diameter, washers of larger diameter than said spirals seated on said portions of smaller diameter and means on the extreme ends of said members for holding said washers in position on said members.

7.' A device of the class described comprising an enclosing casing, slotted tubes rotatably journaled' therein, stropping rolls carried by said tubes, spiral members reciprocable through said tubes. spools slidinglj mounted on said tubes, balls carried by said spools and projecting through the slots of said tubes to contact with said spiralmemhcrs. a blade holder including a. spiral por-' tion mounted in said casing, abridge piece connected with said spools and'having an angular bore slidingly engaging said spiral of the work holderawhereby said blade holder is positioned and said stropping rolls are rotated on reciprocation of said spiral members. 8. A device of the class described comprising an enclosing casing, slotted tubes rotatably journaled therein, stropping rolls llO carried by said tubes, spiral members recip rocable through said tubes, means slidingly mounted on said tube and carrying balls r prising an enclosing casing, shoul red tubes rotatably journaled thereinan ca able of slight endwise movement, stropping rolls on said tubes, spiral driving members reciprocable through said tubes, .a blade holder mounted in said casing, means operable by sa d members for rotating said tubes and positionlng said blade holder, and means adapted to force said tubes endwise to cause the shoulders thereon to engage fixed abutments whereby to prevent premature rotation of said tubes. i

10. A device of the class described comprising an enclosing casing, stropping rolls ournaled in spaced relation therein, a slotted blade holding tube mounted in said casin "between said rolls, melans for rotating said rolls and positioning said blade holding tube, a blade holderadapted to slide into and out of said tube with the edge of the blade projecting through the slots of said tube when said blade is within the casing, and means carried by said holder and extending through the slot in said tube so as to abut the casing preventing the complete withdrlawal of said blade holder from said slotted tu e.

prisin an enclosing casing, stropping rolls rotata 1y journaled therein, a blade holding member mounted'in said casing between said stropping rolls, means for rotating said rolls, and positioning said blade holding member,- a blade holder, slidable with respect to said member and through the end of said casing, means for non-det-achabl connecting said holder to said member an a spring clip carried by said means and adapted to receive the end of the blade thereunder to hold the blade from falling off when the holder is withdrawn from the'casing. 1

' 12. A device of he class described comprisin an enclosing casing, a slotted tube rotata l journaled therein, a stropping roll carried y said tube, a spiral member reciprocable through said tube, a spool slidingly mounte'don said tube, balls carried by said spool and'projecting'through the slots in said tube to contact with said spiral member, a blade holder mounted in said casing,

and means operably connected to said blade holder and operated by the movements of I said sliding spool for whereby said bla'de holder'is positioned and 11. A device of the class described com-- tionin-g", said blade,

said stropping roll is rotatedon. reciproca tion of said spiral member.

13. A..device of the class prising an enclosing casing having an end slot for the withdrawal of a blade and holder, stropping rolls rotatably j ournaled therein, a slotted blade holding tube mounted in said casing between said rolls, means for rotating said rolls and positioning said'tube relatively thereto, a blade holder adapted to be withdrawn through. the end slot of said casing and having spaced lugs thereon, a

spring clip disposed between two :adjacentlugs and having a head passing outwardly through one of the slots of said tube, and

legs passing outwardly through the other 1 slot of said tube, said legs being bent around into gripping contact with the outer periphery of said tube whereby said clip contacting with the mouth of said recess in the end of said casing prevents the complete withdrawal of said blade holder and whereby said gripping contact of the legs of said clip with the outer wall of said tube prevents the inadvertent endwise movement of said holder in said tube.

described com- 14:. A deviceof the class described compris-,

ing an enclosing casing, stropping rolls rotatably journaled therein, a blade holding through the end of the casing, and a springclip interconnecting said blade holder and said blade holding member and adapted to prevent complete withdrawal of said blade holder from said casing, and adapted to prevent accidental endwise movement of said blade holder withrespect to said holding member, and adapted to hold said blade on said blade holder when said holder is withdrawn to its position outside of said casing. 15. A device of the class described, comprising a support, a tube rotatably mounted thereon, a stropping roll on the tube, a blade holder on the support, a rigid driver reciprocable into and out of said tube, means operable by said 'driver for positioning the blade holder and rotating the roll and a shim adapted to press the tube endwise to fric-' tionally drag the same and lpreventpremature rotation of the roll. v

-16. A device of the class described, comprising a support having opposed walls, a

stropping roll rotatably journaled in' said support, a blade holder having a spiraform endrotatably mounted in one wall of said support'but held from endwise movement relative thereto, said blade holder having an opposite circular end mounted for free rotation in the opposite wall of said support, and means for rotating said roll and causing a piece to pass along said spiraform portion and angularly shifting said blade holder.

member mounted in said'casing, means for P and directly journaled in a bore of one of v said Walls,.said blade holder having a spiraform portion with a circular end extendin 0' through an opening in the other of said Walls, said latter end having its extremity peened to preventiendwise displacementof said blade holder while permitting free angular movement thereof, and means for r0- tating said roll and acting on the spiraform portion of said blade holder for angularly shifting said blade holder.

18. A device of the class described, comprising a support having opposed walls, a stropping roll rotatably journaled thereon, a blade holder comprising a spiral portion, and

a tube rigidly connected thereto, said spiral 1 portion being pivotally connected to and angularly movable in the wall of a bore in one wall of said support and said tube being mounted in a bore in the opposite Wall of said support, and means for rotating said roll and causing a piece to pass along said spiraform portion and angularly shifting said blade holder.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

' GEORGE n. GALLAGHER. 

